Title: The Mothering
Author: akire
Email: akire@mailcity.com
Status: Complete/Unbetaed
Category: Crossover: Highlander/Voyager (AU), plus misc others
Spoilers: umm, got a basic grasp of the Highlander universe? Fine. Oh
yeah, we're a Clan Denial fanfic. This Voyager is an AU one, but there
may still be spoilers for various bits and pieces across the seven
seasons. Spoilers also for parts of Sarah Mac's "Seeds" series.
Disclaimers: D/P and Paramount really DO own them. If you don't
recognize it, its probably mine. If it's silly or crazy, definitely is
mine. But if anyone sends the lawyers after me, I'm sending out the
boys with swords ;) Oh yeah, and imitation is the sincerest form of
flattery. If you recognize a specific fanfic creation, it belongs to
its author (when this series is finished, I may tally them up)
Rating: PG, prob. Hey, I'm not offended by much, if it should be rated
higher, tell me!
Content Warning: purists beware. Language may offend some readers. m/m
relationship happy and whole.
Summary: Whilst on an away mission, Reia's got a craving for chocolate,
Harry's in orbit, Richie's on Voyager and Methos is the only Immortal
male around.
Dedication: To the Red Sisters ;)
That's long enough. On with the show!
~~##~~
"Hey Neelix? Have you got any more of those little brown thingies left
over from last night?" Neelix had come into the mess tent to discover
Reia ferreting through his storage bins, one hand already stuffing her
face with the crunchy local nuts he had put out as snacks.
The Talaxian beamed at the thought of someone wanting more of his sweet
delicacies. Most of the crew, he had already decided, had found the
confection too sweet for their palates. The female Immortal had
finished her portion last night, claiming a long-time sweet tooth, but
had not requested seconds. But now she seemed exclusively focussed on
finding more of the treats. "Of course, of course, right over here."
He stepped past her and opened the refrigerator unit. "They have to be
kept chilled to keep their shape," he confided with a gourmet's
delight. "Here, take one." He offered the open box to her.
The woman's eyes lit up. "Thanks Neelix, you're a godsend with
whiskers!" She snatched up the entire box, paused only to peck a check
on his high brow. That close, he could smell the salty sweat on her
skin, and see the strangely rosy cheeks on an even paler than normal
face. But before he could inquire further, she was gone, already
stuffing the sticky concoction into her mouth as fast as she could
chew.
Neelix raised an eyebrow as he watched her go. That was... unusual.
~~##~~
Methos wiped the sweat from his brow and shifted his knapsack to his
other shoulder. Binary systems had amazing sunrises, but the midday
heat was a bitch. The close, sub-tropical jungle kept humidity high,
meaning that the day was long, overly warm and extremely uncomfortable.
Cresting the final rise before returning to the campsite, he was met by
the ebullient Neelix. The Talaxian hailed the oldest man, but as he
came nearer, Methos noted the nervous hand-rubbing, the darting of the
eyes. Methos waved his young assistant on, telling him to return to
camp and start preparing the samples for storage and categorization.
He did not have to wait long once the crewman was out of earshot.
"Doctor, I just wanted to ask you something...I'm just not sure its my
place..."
Continuing to walk, albeit at a far slower pace, back towards camp, he
suppressed a smirk. "Whatever it is, its obviously bothering you,
Neelix. So just ask."
"Its Lieutenant Mills," he said with a sharp sigh. Despite knowing her
real identity, Neelix and many others still lapsed into calling their
Immortal colleagues by their aliases. "I've never seen her behave
so..." he trailed off and shrugged.
Warning bells were chiming in the back of his head. "Neelix? What did
she do. I don't care how petty or minor it sounds. Tell me."
As quickly as he could, Neelix sketched a picture of Reia's behaviour,
her sugar cravings, her almost childlike and simplistic interactions
with others over the course of the day.
"Where's Harry?" Methos asked, picking up the pace to something just
short of a trot.
"With Tom Paris doing the orbital surveys. Why?"
"Keep him there!" Richie was still on Voyager, and whilst Methos had
been missing him dreadfully, he was now very glad that his lover was
far away. Of course, that left him in the hot seat for what was about
to happen.
"Neelix, listen carefully. I need you to do some stuff for me. Harry
needs to stay in orbit. You need to prepare a survival pack, including
blankets and rations, and then I want you to send a message to Richie
for me." Whipping out his padd, he tapped out a short but succinct
message as he walked past the perimetre barriers of the camp. "Give us
until tomorrow morning, then come looking for us."
"Doctor?" Neelix had picked up on an amplified Methos' nervousness,
even as he struggled to keep up with the taller man's stride. "What's
happening?"
"It's the Mothering."
~~##~~
Luring Reia beyond the camp perimetre had been remarkably easy. In
fact, looking back, he wasn't entirely sure who had lured who. In any
case, it wasn't long before he was flat on his back and naked as his
old friend fell to needs as old as Immortality. He struggled to stay
awake once she was sated, but the demands on his reserves had been too
great, and he fell into an exhausted sleep.
He woke to the eery pre-dawn light alone and shivering. It was easy to
see which way she had gone, for she had made no attempt to conceal her
passing through the thick undergrowth. Dressing quickly, he shouldered
the pack Neelix had prepared for him and moved to follow.
~~##~~